53. Errors - Shegagos

One who in error transgresses a negative commandment
that carries the punishment of "cutting off" is commanded
to bring an animal sin-offering. The high priest brings
a bull; the king, a he-goat; all others bring a female
sheep; but for idolatry they all bring a kid [as it says
"If a person sins in error..."].1,a

If a person is not certain whether or not he has
transgressed such a commandment he brings a guilt-offering, as
it says "[And if a person sins]... and does not know and
is guilty and bears his sin, he brings an unblemished ram
of the flocks as a guilt-offering".2 A guilt-offering is
also brought by one who has had sexual relations with a
betrothed maidservant3 or who has committed robbery4 or
who has committed sacrilege in error,5 as well as by a
nazirite who became impure6 and by a purified leper.7,b

A purified leper also brings two sheep as a sin-offering and a
burnt-offering; but if he cannot afford them
he brings two birds.8 A woman who has given birth brings
a lamb burnt-offering (as well as a bird sin-offering);
but if she cannot afford it she brings a bird instead.9
A person who has violated an oath
in error or who has entered the Temple or eaten sacred
things in error while impure brings a sheep as a sin-offering;
but if he cannot afford it he brings two birds
(a sin-offering and a burnt-offering), and if he cannot
afford even that he brings a flour-offering.10,c

If the Sanhedrin ruled in error regarding a commandment
for which a sin-offering is required and a majority
of the people followed their ruling, each tribe brings a
bull sin-offering, as it says "And if all the congregation
of Israel err...".11 If the error involved idolatry each
tribe also brings a he-goat sin-offering, as it says "If
it was done in error by oversight of the congregation...".12
All these offerings are burned.d